TV & RADIO

A SHOW watched by a handful of viewers is poised to dominate tonight's Logie awards with Foxtel drama series Love My Way nominated for five gongs.

Conceived and co-produced by Claudia Karvan, who also stars in the series, Love My Way has a national audience of about 50,000.

But the drama, dubbed the best least watched show on television, is up for the peer-voted most outstanding drama series award and its stars Karvan, Asher Keddie, Brendan Cowell and Dan Wyllie have been nominated for Silver Logies in the most outstanding categories.

Its recognition has rankled executives at free-to-air networks, who point out that Love My Way's audience is a fraction of that watching the big guns of Australian drama Blue Heelers, All Saints, McLeod's Daughters, Home And Away and Neighbours all of which have been nominated in the most popular Australian drama category.

Foxtel's executive director of television and marketing, Brian Walsh said Love My Way deserved to be recognised at Australia's premier television awards ceremony which, for the first time, will be hosted by three personalities from across the commercial networks: Andrew O'Keefe, Eddie McGuire and Rove McManus.

An arrivals special covering all the fashion will presented by Leila McKinnon, Richard Wilkins and Catriona Rowntree.

"I'm going to be controversial and say it's a sign that the industry recognises that we are an integral part of the industry," he said.

"Having said that, I am bemused to read that the networks think they are taking an ecumenical approach by using hosts from three networks. To say it's the industry banding together is a fallacy. It's the three commercial networks banding together. We were not invited to provide a host and we have numerous people who could hold their own up there."

On the sheer weight of its nominations, Love My Way stands a good chance of winning an award.

But as any awards ceremony aficionado knows: it's not about who wins or loses, it's about the frocks.

McKinnon, wife of Nine Network chief executive David Gyngell, will wear a Lisa Ho made especially for her. Gold Logie nominee Bec Cartwright is also tipped to wear Lisa Ho while her fiance, Lleyton Hewitt, will wear a suit from Calibre.

TUNED OUT

? Hopefully Logies co-host and nominee for the most popular Australian personality Rove McManus will enjoy his moment in the limelight tonight as his show continues to slide in the ratings. Rove Live drew 790,000 viewers on Ten last week, behind Nine's CSI: New York (1.36 million) and Seven's All Saints (1.09 million) and Medical Emergency (870,000).

TUNED IN

? CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: The winner of Seven's Dancing With The Stars has been announced and viewers have rediscovered their remotes. Nine's CSI, starring William Petersen, was back on top on Tuesday with 1.64 million viewers, ahead of Dancing With The Stars highlights (1.59 million), ABC's The Bill (1.06 million) and Ten's The O.C. (930,000).

MOVEMENTS

? Former Channel Nine senior executive in the 1970s and 1980s Lynton Taylor has returned to the network as a consultant, working on the rights to the AFL, NRL and cricket.

? Nine's Melbourne general manager Ian Audsley has been promoted to national general manager.

? Former Seven chief executive Maureen Plavsic has been appointed to the board of the Macquarie Radio Network.

CHANNEL Seven has approved a live comedy project which reunites former Full Frontal stars Peter Moon, Marg Downey and Michael Veitch who will work alongside Jane Hall, radio personality Dave O'Neil and newcomer Queenie van der Zandt.

The comedy working title Let Loose Live will be produced in Melbourne and is expected to be on air as early as next month.

It's understood it will be presented by different guests each week, with Shaun Micallef, Jimeoin McKeown and William McInnes approached. Seven is locking in contracts with cast members and an official announcement is expected to be made soon.

* TONY Squires, at a loose end at Channel Seven since the cancellation of his show last year, is to become the face of cricket at the network. He and Test bowler Stuart McGill will host Seven's coverage of the NatWest Series and the NatWest Challenge in June and July. The pair are also working on a panel show to air between innings featuring Kerry O'Keeffe. "The panel show will provide a fresh look at cricket in an entertaining way," said Seven's head of sport Saul Shtein.

* 2GB's Ray Hadley has lost his long-standing fill-in, with Tim Webster heading to 2UE where he will replace John Laws when the Golden Tonsils are otherwise engaged.

Webster, whose usual gig is sports anchor on Channel Ten, has been filling in for Hadley on and off for about two years, convenient given that Ten's studios are next door to 2GB.

Barely containing his glee, 2UE general manager Bob Miller said: "We are delighted Tim has agreed to be part of our team and I know John is happy Tim will step in when he's away and help keep the dream alive."